James Glass and Eric T. Wagner have been incredibly positive forces in Startup Savant (+ projects in development), and it’s possible you wouldn’t be reading this if they weren’t in the picture. Not only have they helped craft and perfect what we do here at Startup Savant, but they’ve helped me keep my head on straight when things get overwhelming.

Because of how busy we are as entrepreneurs, and everything that’s at stake if you don’t plan things out just right, it’s really important to get an expert opinion from someone who has been there and done that in your industry. A mentor can:

Give You Expert Advice: They have been in your shoes and know exactly what struggles you’re having and can give you advice and suggestions based on real-world experiences. This insight is tremendously valuable so you can avoid potential pitfalls and common mistakes.

Show You A Different Perspective: It’s easy get caught up with your ideas to the point of constantly questioning or second-guessing yourself. Having an experienced mentor can help you work through this and give you recommendations you might not have thought of before.

Help You Network: Your mentor probably has a much larger network of industry connections than you do and can help open doors for you to meet potential partners, customers, and decision-makers in your market. This introduction could help you seal the deal more readily than just meeting that random connection at a business convention or Starbucks.

Help You With Skill Development: If a particular aspect of your startup is causing you problems, a business mentor can help you understand how to attack that particular task. Many mentors have advanced skills in certain areas, so you can improve your technical abilities while you’re gathering insight for the bigger picture of your startup.

So you might be saying, “Yea, that sounds great, but how much will this cost me?” While it’s true that you can pay thousands of dollars an hour for a mentorship, there are opportunities everywhere that that cost nothing at all. For instance SCORE’s business mentor program.

SCORE has experienced business professionals who volunteer their time to help startups and small businesses get the advice and knowledge they need to succeed. You can get help with your business strategy or anything else – free of charge. SCORE has more than 300 locations across America, with volunteers ready to sit down with you and discuss your business needs.

Although Startup Savant is not affiliated with SCORE, our mission is to see your business succeed. We’re happy to point you in the right direction for the right resources, even if we aren’t the ones who created them.

I’d like to leave you with a really simple quote to drive home what I’m saying. Think about it.

I’ve been blessed to find people who are smarter than I am, and they help me execute the vision I have.

Half hardworking hermit, half avid adventurer, Ryan founded Startup Savant to simplify entrepreneurship and pay it forward by donating a portion of all revenue to support children's education via DonorsChoose.org.